Cultivator.



No. 776,788. I PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904. A. O. LINDGREN.

OULTIVATOR.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JUNE 22, 1904.

N0 MODEL, 5 SHEETS-SHEBT 1..

No. 776,788. PATENTED DEO. 6, 1904. A. U. LINDGREN.

CULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1904.

N0 MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2A PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

A. 0. LINDGREN.

GULTIVATOR. APPLICATION FILED mm: 22. 1904'.

5 SHEETS-SHEET i.

N0 MODEL.

l/qhbwaawa No. 776,788. PATENTED DEC. 6, 1904.

A. 0. LINDGREN.

GULTIVATOE.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 22. 1904.

N0 MODEL 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Inventor UNITED Y STATES Patented December 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXUS O. LINDGREN, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOLINE PLOW COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,788, dated December 6, 1904. Application filed June 22 1904. Serial No. 213,632. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALnXus (J. LINDeRuN, of Moline, county of Rock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cultivators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wheeled cultivators of the type employed for working two rows I at once, which machines embody usually a wheeled frame equipped with two pairs or sets of beams or drag-bars having suitable culti vating devices and acting, respectively, on opposite sides of the two rows of plants under cultivation.

The aim of the invention is to facilitate the control of the beams by the driver; and the invention consists of controlling mechanism of improved form and construction for the purpose of enabling the beams to be raised or lowered in unison or individually and individually adjusted and otherwise manipulated to meet the varying conditions encountered in the practical use of the machine.

The invention consists also in the details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is'a perspective view of one set of beams raised out of action. Fig. 3 is a rear per spective view of the machine with the beams lowered. Fig. 4 is a side view showing the inner beam raised. Fig. 5 is a perspective view. on an enlarged scale, of the mechanism for raising and lowering the beams independently and in unison, the latter movement being indicated by dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a wheeled frame comprising an arched axle 2, provided at its ends with wheel-spindles, on which are mounted ground-wheels 3, to which axle are secured the rear ends of two pairs of fore and aft frame-bars 4 and 5, the bars of each pair being brought together at their forward ends and firmly fastened to the opposite sides of two tongues 6, which tongues are provided with appropriate draft devices for the attachment of two draft-teams. The fore and aft frame-bars have firmly connected to their struction which will admit'of the horizontal and vertical movements of p the individual beams. The two sets of beams are adapted to be controlled in their horizontal and verti- 5 cal movements by the driver, who occupies seat 13 between the inner beams at their rear extremities on a forwardly-extending seatframe 14, jointedto the transverse frame-bar 7 and resting on the arched axle, and as the 7 two adjusting mechanisms for the two sets of beamsare the same in all respects a description of one will suffice.

Rising from the fore and aft frame-bars at a point forward of the arched axle are two standards--an outer one, 15, and an inner one, 16--in which standards is journaled a transverse rock-shaft 17 having rigidly connected with it an inner forwardly-extending crankarm 18 and an outer forwardly-extending 8O crank-arm 19, which arms are operativel y connected with the respective beams by connecting mechanism of such form that when the shaft is rocked both beams will be moved in unison; but if either connecting mechanism 5 is operated independently of the-shaft that beam only which is connected with the mechanism in action will be moved.

The connecting mechanism for the inner beam consists, as shown more particularly in 9 Fig. 5, of an elbow-lever 20, jointed between its ends to the end ofcrank-arm 18 and having its forward end connected with beam 11 by a long rod 22. The opposite end of the elbow-lever is jointed to the forward end of a link 23, the rear end of which is jointed to a hand operating-lever 24. This operating-lever is pivoted at its lower end to a frame or extension 25, rigidly connected with and extending in a direction opposite to crank-arm 18, which frame is formed with a series of teeth 26, adapted to be engaged by alockingdog 27 on the operating-lever, the arrangement being such that this lever may be rocked on its pivot with relation to the teeth and frame or may be locked to the frame, so that when moved in its locked position the frame and crank-arm will be caused to move with it, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. As a result of the first operationnamely,the movement of the lever with respect to the teeththe elbow-lever will be rocked and will move the inner beam without altering the position of rock-shaft 17, so that the outer beam will not be affected. As a result of the second operationnamely, the movement of the hand operating-lever in its locked positionthe rock-shaft 17 will be turned, and owing to its operative connection with both beams they will be moved in unison.

The connecting mechanism for the outer beam consists of an elbow-lever 28, pivoted between its ends to crank-arm 19 and having its forward end connected with the outer beam by a long rod 29 and its rear end connected by a link 30 with a hand-lever 31, provided with a locking-dog 32, engaging teeth 33 on a segment-plate 34, fixed firmly to the side of the frame-bar 4c and constituting, in effect, a part of the frame of the machine, to

which segment-plate the hand-lever 31 is pivoted, the arrangement being such that when this lever 31 is operated on its pivot it will rock elbow-lever 28 and will move the outer beam without affecting the rock-shaft or the inner beam.

It will be observed that the connecting mechanism between the shaft and the outer beam, as just described, does not interfere with the action of hand-lever 24 in moving the beams in unison, for when the inner handlever is locked to its toothed frame and, for instance, depressed, the shaft being rocked in the direction indicated, bot-h crank-arms will be thrown upward and lifting both the elbowlevers 18 and 19 bodily both beams will be raised by the upward pull -on the rods 22 and 29, the pivotal connection of link 30 with its hand-lever 31, which is for the time being locked firmly to the frame of the machine, permitting the upward movement of elbowlever 28, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. During this action the relation of link 23 and hand-lever 2 1 does not change, for when the hand-lever 2 1 is locked these parts and also the elbow-lever 20 preserve their relative positions.

By the construction described it will be seen that either beam may be adjusted independently of the other by the operation of its respective lever and that both beams may be raised and lowered in unison by the operation of the inner lever. For example, if the conditions encountered demand a relative adjustment of the beams this is effected by the unlatching of the one or the other of the two hand-levers and its adjustment to set the beam to the desired position, and these positions of the beams are preserved notwithstanding the simultaneous movement of the beams by the inner lever when the latter is locked to its toothed frame, as when passing over an obstruction or in elevating the beams in turning a row or in passing from one field to another.

In order that the driver may be relieved of the weight of the beams when they are elevated in unison and in order that when raised they may be held in this position, I provide a lifting-spring 33 connected at its forward end at a fixed point on the frame of the machine, in the present instance to the transverse frame-bar 7 and at its rear end with an arm 34 fixed to rock-shaft 17. The relation of this arm to the spring and the parts of the elevating mechanism is such that when the beams are down in action the arm 34 will extend rearwardly at a slight inclination upward, bringing the ends of the spring and the point of attachment of the arm with the rockshaft nearly in line, the result being that while the spring will be under full tension it will pull nearly on a dead-center and will consequently exert little, if any, upward pull on the beams. \Vhen, however, the rock-shaft is turned downward to raise the beams, the arm will be swung downward to the position indicated by dotted lines-in Fig. 5, which action will gradually increase the leverage of the spring on the shaft, and the latter will pull with increasing effect andwill elevate the beams.

The upward movement of the beams is limited by the inner hand-lever 24 encountering the arched axle of the machine, the tension of the spring and the relation of the parts being such that the spring will hold the beams raised. The downward movement of the beams is limited by a stop 35 on the inner crank-arm 18 encountering standard 16 and by a stop-lug 36 on the outer standard, which is encountered by the outer crank-arm 19, the weight of the beams holding them down in action, subject to the slight lifting tendency of the spring when in this position.

The beams of the two sets may be connected together by any appropriate means which, while preserving their parallelism, will admit of their individual vertical movements and the movement of one pair vertically with relation to the other pair. The connecting means I prefer to adopt for this purpose are illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that the beams of each set are provided with vertical sockets 37, in which are loosely seated and confined stems on the lower ends of locking-heads 38, which heads are formed each with a transverse slot receiving the horizontal notched ends of a connecting-arch 39, held yieldingly locked to the heads by springs therein bearing on the upper edges of the horizontal portions of the arch and maintaining the notches interlocked with lugs in the heads. By means of this connection the beams may be adjusted to and from each other to vary the distance between them by disengaging the lugs from the notch against the pressure of the spring and engaging it with another notch. Further, while maintaining the parallelism of the beams this connection will not interferewith the elevation of the beams individually, in which case the springs and locking-lugs will permit the ends of the arch to rock in the locking-heads and assume an inclined position without disengaging the lugs. The two pairs of beams are in a like manner and with like results connected by a transverse horizontal rod 40, notched at its ends and extending through slotted lockingheads 41, similar to those just described, and formed with stems seated loosely in sockets 42 on the two inner beams. This connection will admit of the relative adjustment of the two pairs of beams and also the elevation of one pair without disturbing the position of the other pair.

The inner hand-levers controlling the vertical movements of the two pairs of beams and the vertical movements of the inner ones independently of the outer ones are extended adjacent to the driver, who by the manipulation of these levers can effect the various adjustments of the two inner beams independently and can raise and lower the beams of the two sets in pairs. adjusting the position of the outer beams with reference to the inner ones are bent laterally, so as to be within easy reach of the driver, who by manipulating them can raise and lower the outer beams independently of the inner ones and can effect their various adjustments with relation to the same.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is 1. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two cultivator-beams, a common actuating member therefor, connections between said actuating member and both beams, two hand-levers joined to said connections respectively, and movable independently of the common actuating member, means for locking one of said levers fixedly to the common actuating member, and means for lock ing the other lever fixedly to the frame of the machine.

2. ln a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two cultivator-beams, an ac tuating rock-shaft therefor, connections be tween the rock-shaft and both beams, each connection including a movable member adapted to be moved independently of the shaft and to impart a corresponding movement to its beam, two hand-levers movable The outer levers for tween said hand-levers and the movable aetuating members respectively, means for connecting one of said levers fixedly to the shaft to move both beams together, and means for locking the other lever to the frame of the machine.

3. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two cultivator-beams con nected therewith to rise and fall, an actuating rock-shaft for said beams, crank-arms on said shaft, pivotal levers carried by the crankarms, connections between one end of said levers and the beams, two hand-levers, links connecting the same with the opposite ends of the pivotal levers, said hand-lcvers being movable relatively to the rock -shaft, and means for locking one of said hand-levers fixedly to said shaft.

4. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two cultivator-beams an actuating rock-shaft therefor, two crank-arms extending forwardly from said shaft, elbowlevers pivoted to said crank-arms, two handlevers movable relatively to the rock-shaft, connections between the elbow-levers and the beams, connections between the elbowlevers and the hand-levers, means for holding one hand-lever at will in fixed relation to the rockshaft, and means for connecting the other handleven fixedly to the rock-shaft.

5. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two cultivator-beams, an ac tuating rock-shaft therefor, two crank-arms fixed to the rock-shaft, rocking devices 20 and 28 carried respectively by said crank-arms, connections between said rocking devices and the beams, a hand-lever pivoted to the frame of the machine and connected to one of the said rocking devices, means for locking said hand-lever in different positions on the frame of the machine, an extension on the rockshaft, a second hand-lever pivoted to said extension, connections between this hand-lever and the other rocking device, and means for locking the second hand-lever at will to said extension in different positions.

6. In a cultivator and in combination with i the main frame, two vertically-movable cultivator-beams, a transverse rock-shaft mounted in bearings on the frame above the beams, forwardly-extending crank-arms on saidshaft, an elbow-lever pivoted between its ends to each of said crank-arms, rods connecting the forward ends of the elbow-levers to the respective beams, a hand-lever pivoted to the frame of the machine, a link jointed to said hand-lever and to the rear end of one of the elbow-levers, a toothed segment on the frame with which said hand-lever cooperates, a rearward extension fixed on the rock-shaft and provided with teeth, a hand-lever pivoted to the extension and having a locking device cooperating with said teeth, and a link connected with said lever and extending forwardly and jointed t0 the rear end of the other elbowlever.

7. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, two vertically-movable beams mounted thereon, a common actuating member for both beams, two hand-levers connected with the respective beams and adapted to adjust the beams independently, means for connecting one only of said hand-levers with the common actuating member to move the beams in unison, and means for holding the other hand-lever in fixed position relatively to the common actuating member when the latter is operated to move the beams together; whereby the simultaneous movement of the beams is effected by one lever only, the other lever while this action is taking place, remaining fixed.

8. In a cultivator and in combination with the main frame, a plurality of vertically-movable cultivator-beams, a rock-shaft operatively connected with said beams and adapted to move them in unison, means for rocking said shaft, an arm fixed to said shaft and extending rearwardly therefrom, and a spring connected at its rear end with the free end of said arm and at its forward end with the fixed part of the frame, the said parts being so arranged and related that when the shaft is rocked to lower the beams, the opposite ends of the spring and the point of connection of the arm with the rock-shaft will be in line or nearly so, and when the shaft is rocked to raise the beams the arm will be carried downward and offer an increasing leverage to the influence of the spring on the shaft.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of May, 1904:, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ALEXUS C. LINDGREN.

Witnesses:

(3. H. LIPPINOOTT, L. C. BLANDING. 

